Pinamungajan treasurer suspended

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has ordered the suspension of Pinamungajan Municipal Treasurer for one month without pay.

Graft Investigator and Prosecution Officer Katherine Genovesa found Ursula Managaytay administratively guilty of simple misconduct for not issuing officials receipts to security deposits of some market stallholders.

 The anti-graft office directed Mayor Glenn Baricuatro to implement its decision dated July 21, 2013.

 But Baricuatro told The Freeman yesterday that he has not yet received the copy of the decision.

 The case stemmed from the administrative complaint for misconduct filed by Jeffrey Lingad and Aniceta Tejamo, the president and secretary, respectively, of the Market Vendors Association of the Pinamungajan Public Market.

 On July 31, 2013, Managaytay reportedly returned to some market stallholders the security deposits required for the occupancy of the public market.

 They alleged that Managaytay did not issue official receipts when she received the deposits sometime in 2011 and 2012 but only acknowledgement receipt and had kept the money privately and not in the municipal coffers.

 Managaytay contended that after the expiration of the contract of lease in 2010, the occupancy of the vendors continued.

 Then mayor Geraldine Yapha reportedly directed the new occupants to pay the P2,500 as security deposit.

 Managaytay claimed she decided to issue an acknowledgment receipt as proof of payment and the subject funds were not public funds considering that they were not paid pursuant to a valid and existing contract binding the municipality.

 She had accepted the money for safekeeping in anticipation of a new contract of lease to be issued.

 But the anti-graft office said the contention of the respondent was “untenable” for what was involved was a cash bond deposit for the lease of a stall at the public market, a government property.

 “She, however, can only be held liable for Simple Misconduct since the elements of corruption, clear intent to violate the law or flagrant disregard of established rule are not manifest,” read the decision.

 It added that considering that it was the first offense of the respondent, she shall be meted the minimum penalty of suspension for a period of one month and one day without pay.  (FREEMAN)